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TeresahRN
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Could I Have a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?
Urinary tract infection (UTI) was last month’s most searched condition on the iTriage application. UTIs account for over seven million visits to the doctor’s office each year, and most commonly affect females, though the infection can present in any age or gender. A very common, treatable medical ailment, UTIs may lead to more serious kidney infections if left untreated. Repeat occurrences and/or severe infections could potentially cause permanent damage including kidney scars, poor kidney function, high blood pressure, and other problems.
What is a UTI?
A UTI is an infection in the urinary tract. Infections are caused by microbes—organisms too small to be seen without a microscope—including fungi, viruses, and bacteria. Bacteria are the most common cause of UTIs. Normally, bacteria that enter the urinary tract are rapidly removed by the body before they cause symptoms. However, sometimes bacteria overcome the body’s natural defenses and cause an infection. UTIs go by a variety of names, depending on where they happen along the urinary tract:
Bladder — an infection in the bladder is also called cystitis or a bladder infection
Kidneys — an infection of one or both kidneys is called pyelonephritis or a kidney infection
Ureters — the tubes that take urine from each kidney to the bladder are only rarely the site of infection
Urethra — an infection of the tube that empties urine from the bladder to the outside is called urethritis
What is the urinary tract?
The urinary tract is the body’s drainage system for removing wastes and extra water. The urinary tract includes two kidneys, two ureters, a bladder, and a urethra. The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist and located below the ribs, one on each side of the spine, toward the middle of the back. Every minute, a person’s kidneys filter about 3 ounces of blood, removing wastes and extra water. The wastes and extra water make up the 1 to 2 quarts of urine a person produces each day. The urine travels from the kidneys down two narrow tubes called the ureters. The urine is then stored in a balloon-like organ called the bladder and emptied through the urethra, a tube at the bottom of the bladder.
When the bladder empties, a muscle called the sphincter relaxes and urine flows out of the body through the urethra. The opening of the urethra is at the end of the penis in males and in front of the vagina in females.
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TeresahRN
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What are the symptoms of a UTI?
Symptoms can vary between individuals and often depend on a person’s age, gender, and whether a catheter is present. Symptoms include:
Frequent and intense urge to urinate
Painful, burning feeling in the bladder or urethra during urination
Small amount of urine
Cloudy, dark, bloody, or foul smelling urine
Fever
Feeling tired, shaky, or weak
Muscle aches
Abdominal pain
How are UTIs diagnosed?
If a UTI is suspected, a urine sample will be obtained by your provider. The best sample of urine to obtain is midstream placed in a sterile cup to avoid “normal bacterial flora” or contamination from the body. The sample of urine is then sent for analysis and to determine if a culture is then needed to identify specific bacteria causing the infection. If an individual is unable to provide a urine sample himself or herself, a sterile catheter is used at times to obtain the urine sample.
How are UTIs treated?
Most UTIs are caused by bacteria, which are treated with bacteria-fighting medications called antibiotics or antimicrobials. When a UTI occurs in a healthy person with a normal, unobstructed urinary tract, the term “uncomplicated” is used to describe the infection. Most healthy young women who have UTIs have uncomplicated UTIs, and can be cured with a short course of oral antibiotics prescribed by their provider. It is important to finish the prescribed antibiotic regimen even if your symptoms resolve. For a severe UTI, oral and/or intravenous antibiotics may need to be given based on results of a urine culture to tailor treatment on the specific bug (s) causing the infection.
How can I avoid getting a UTI?
When nature calls, answer: Urinate when you need to. Don’t hold it. Pass urine before and after sex. For women, after you pass urine or have a bowel movement (BM), wipe from front to back.
Keep hydrated: Try for 6 to 8 glasses of water a day.
Keep clean: Make sure to practice good, regular genital hygiene.
Wear breathable clothes: Wear cotton undergarments, and avoid tight-fitting pants.
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TeresahRN
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Urinary Tract Infection: Got That Tingling Feeling
Burning with urination. Cramping stomach. Continual urge to urinate. These are the symptoms of the most searched Urinary Tract Infection or more commonly known as a UTI.
A urinary tract infection can happen anywhere along the urinary tract. Because of this a UTI may be called different names depending on what part of the urinary tract is under attack.
Bladder infection — also called cystitis is an infection in the bladder.
Kidney infections — also called pyelonephritis are an infection of one or both kidneys.
Ureter infection — is an infection of the tubes that take urine from the kidney to the bladder.
Urethra infection — is an infection of the tube that empties urine from the bladder to outside the body.
Why Do UTI’s Impact Women More Than Men?
Germs. Bacteria enter the urethra and then enter the bladder or kidneys. Usually your body can process the bacteria and prevent infection, but sometimes the little germs get through and make you miserable.
Women have a shorter urethra that is closer to the rectum than men. Women are also more likely to get a UTI from sexual activity, due to diaphragm use or upon entering menopause.
Symptoms of Infection include:
Cloudy urine
Blood in urine (hematuria)
Foul smelling urine
Frequent or urgent need to urinate
Need to urinate at night (nocturia)
Pain or burning with urination (dysuria)
Pressure below the umbilicus of the abdomen.
Symptoms of more serious Kidney infection include:
Fever over 101
Vomiting
Severe pain during urination
Flank, back or groin pain
Confusion or mental changes
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TeresahRN
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Treatment
Diagnosis of the condition is generally confirmed with a urinalysis (UA) or Urine culture. Treatment depends on the severity of infection and may include antibiotic medications to decrease the burning and/or pain medications to relieve pain symptoms.
Where you seek treatment is a matter of choice and convenience. Appropriate treatment can be found at your physician’s office or from a variety of healthcare access points. According to the Healthcare Blue Book the cost of diagnosis and treatment for a UTI has a wide range based on where you seek care. Below is a breakdown of costs and fees associated with a UTI*:
Emergency Department:
Physician fee – $211
Hospital fee – $386
Laboratory Studies – Urine Analysis $27 and Urine Culture $37
Total = $661
Urgent Care Center:
Healthcare Provider and Facility Fee – $150
Laboratory Studies – Urine Analysis $27 and Urine Culture $37
Total = $214
Retail Clinic:
Healthcare Provider and Facility Fee – $62
Laboratory Studies – Urine Analysis $27 and Urine Culture $37
Total = $126
*All cost information is estimated based on average nationwide pricing data and may not reflect exact pricing in your area or based on your insurance.
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